Top 10 Causes of Contact Dermatitis

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Have a red, sore itchy rash after wearing that new bracelet? It could result from allergic contact dermatitis, a skin reaction to something — jewelry, fragrance or other substances — with which you've had contact.

The July issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter lists the top 10 causes of contact dermatitis that were recently identified by Mayo Clinic researchers:

• Nickel, commonly found on jewelry clasps or buttons


• Gold, usually worn as jewelry


• Balsam of Peru, a fragrance used in skin care products and perfume


• Thimerosal, a preservative used in vaccines

Neomycin sulfate, a topical antibiotic

• Fragrance mix, which is comprised of eight of the most common flavorings found in various products


• Formaldehyde, a preservative that can be found in paper products, paints, building materials, medications, household cleaners and fabric finishes


• Cobalt chloride, a metal found in medical products, hair dye, antiperspirants, and in snaps, buttons and tools


• Bacitracin, a topical antibiotic


• Quaternium-15, a preservative found in skin care products and in industrial products such as paints, polishes and waxes

Skin allergy patch testing can confirm allergies to these substances.

###

To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to www.mayoclinic.org/news. MayoClinic.com is available as a resource for your health stories.